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“Possessor. It’s only been about five years since their existence was revealed and hunting has begun.”

Tsar explained that way.

Yet I remained with a stiff expression, staring out the window at the corpse being roasted on a skewer.

“…Why are they doing that?”

“Fear.”

She stated firmly.

“Do you know about Possessors?”

“…Yes. I know well.”

“Right, I heard you’ve fought with the Demon King’s minions several times. You must know well that the Demon King is calling the Possessors to lead the world into chaos.”

I didn’t have the courage to reveal that I was a Possessor in front of the Tsar.

And it seemed that choice was the right one.

“Especially for us in the Ice Palace, the damage caused by Possessors is significant. It’s largely due to the Erosion Zone in front of us, but above all…”

Ryudmira sneered as she stared long and hard at the burnt corpse.

“Perhaps the fact that Possessors have emerged from the Ice Palace.”

“Here, you mean?”

“Already over a thousand citizens have been abducted by the Demon King’s Army. Half of them have returned, the other half have become our enemies.”

“….”

The Dark Mage Jake I encountered in Nua Diel said the same.

The Demon King’s Army captures slaves from the north of the Empire and turns them into Possessors.

And the Ice Palace can only be the greatest victim of such abduction schemes.

“Think about it. A lost family member has joined the Demon King’s Army and wishes to kill another family. They are called Possessors. Now, what do you suppose happens to the returned slaves?”

“…They will be suspected.”

“Exactly. That’s the current situation. The citizens are afraid, and they’re looking for a way to alleviate that fear. A very cruel hunt is gaining popularity as a method.”

The Tsar turned to look at me.

Her gaze was oddly sharp.

“Hero, what do you think of this situation?”

“They are innocent.”

“Of course, I know that.”

“…Then why?”

The Tsar leaned against the backrest and lifted her glass.

Then, she took a sip as if to use the grim scene outside as a snack, and said,

“Didn’t I mention earlier? To lead, one must sacrifice somewhat for the greater good. No matter how unreasonable an act it may seem, if it can maintain the cohesion of the group, I cannot help but allow it.”

“….”

“Moreover, I, too, have lost my daughter.”

“To whom?”

“To a Possessor. To be precise, she became a Possessor.”

I barely held back a sigh that wanted to escape.

“Now I serve as the Plague Lord’s lieutenant, casually bringing catapults to the Ice Palace territory to hurl carts filled with corpses over the walls.”

“…That’s truly unfortunate.”

“Hero, I am not seeking sympathy from you.”

She slammed down the glass.

So hard that fine cracks formed in the glass.

“I am relying on you to kill Plague Lord Vermina and take my daughter’s life as the lieutenant.”

“…But the Possessors…”

“Don’t say any more. I have already decided. When the day comes, I will devote even my life to eradicate all those filth in the north. Thanks to you, that day may come a little earlier and a little easier.”

With that, the Tsar closed her mouth.

Then she gestured to Cecilia, who was rigid with tension, to rise.

The conversation ended there.

*

“Lady Cecilia, were you aware of the Possessor hunting?”

“How could I not? I’m the captain of the Imperial Guards, and this situation has been ongoing in the capital for several years.”

“What do you think about it?”

“I think it’s fundamentally wrong.”

Cecilia’s stance was resolute. Even if it was her lord’s wish, her straightforward personality allowed her to say what was not right. This aligned neatly with the Cecilia Ethelgarand one could meet in a game.

However, I decided to put off revealing that I was a Possessor to Cecilia a little longer. I could hardly grasp the situation in the Ice Palace yet.

“How is that hunt conducted?”

“It may be uncomfortable for the Saint Lady to hear, but a new religion called the Purification Church is thriving within the Ice Palace. They assert that both Possessors and Plague must be burned to be purified and ascend to heaven.”

The Purification Church.

It sounded like an extremist cult just by hearing its name.

“Does the Tsar impose any restrictions?”

“No. Rather, she’s turning a blind eye to the church. She claims everyone needs a place to lean on.”

Indeed, the Ice Palace, along with the Great Forest, is a place where the church struggles to exert its influence.

Even believing in a god wouldn’t make a sprout grow in a land barren of even a blade of grass.

It wouldn’t be surprising if the Purification Church gained traction due to the geographic characteristics of the Ice Palace.

The Tsar seems to be utilizing this church as a tool for stabilizing public sentiment.

“…What’s the story behind the Tsar’s daughter becoming a Possessor?”

I asked cautiously, as it was a sensitive topic, and Cecilia sighed quietly.

“It happened when I had just been appointed as a knight. There was a massive raid, even affecting the royal palace. In the process, my lady was abducted and soon reappeared as a Dark Mage handling the Plague.”

“…That’s horrific.”

“The Demon King’s Army is heinous. I would willingly sacrifice myself to eradicate them. Not in the way of the Purification Church, though.”

Cecilia extended her hand toward me, looking earnest.

“Please. Just as the Sword Saint and Golden Lion, I too will be the sword of the Hero.”

“….”

Though Ophelia tugged at my cloak, seemingly displeased, I ignored it and took Cecilia’s hand.

Her hand was surprisingly cold as if it were nothing but ice.

Was it because that thought showed on my face? Cecilia gave a sheepish smile.

“I’m sorry. It’s just my constitution.”

“No, it’s fine.”

Cecilia stealthily hid her hand behind her back.

For some reason… I felt like I was being guarded against.

*

Whether the Possessor hunt flourished or not, we had to do our part.

After settling our modest luggage at the accommodation provided by the Ice Palace, we headed out into the city.

By the way, Erwin, Wuzmund, and the elven delegation had to stay at the royal citadel. They said something about needing to follow diplomatic procedures.

Thus, Albrecht and Azar had separate discussions with Cecilia while Ophelia and I strolled through the city with Emily.

“Are you not going to get hunted?”

“I’m a Hero. And a Hero is always in the advantageous position anywhere.”

“That’s true, but you never know.”

“I understand Ophelia’s concerns. I’m also in the process of devising some countermeasures.”

“Hmm.”

It was Ophelia who seemed more anxious than I was.

She flinched, scanning her surroundings throughout our walk, and each time, the tip of her furry hat swayed from side to side.

The Ice Palace was in a situation where the Purification Church was gaining power. I had dressed in the robes of a northern noble instead of the holy garments, hoping to avoid any troubles, and to my surprise, it suited me remarkably well. Especially that fluttering furry hat looked incredibly cute.

Emily seemed to enjoy dressing Ophelia, and now I understood why.

Ophelia was truly the continent’s best dress model.

“What? What are you looking at?”

“You look good in that.”

“…Well, of course. Who am I?”

She puffed her chest up, looking quite pleased, and I couldn’t help but find it amusing and tugged at the tip of her hat.

Ophelia whipped her head around.

“Don’t mess with my hair!”

Her reaction was so animated that teasing her was fun.

“So where are we going?”

That was Emily’s question. She was looking at some dried herbs on the street with apparent interest.

“For now, I’m thinking of heading to the Adventurer Guild.”

The Adventurer Guild also existed here in the Ice Palace.

Though it wasn’t as bustling as in the south and its influence was not significant, it served its purpose as a means of contact.

We made our way to the Adventurer Guild and spoke my name to the receptionist.

The receptionist soon brought over two letters.

“Ellyott… Elliott, ah, here it is. You have two letters.”

“May I read them?”

“Of course.”

One was a letter from Laila.

She was asking how we were doing and inquiring after Ophelia’s well-being.

“It appears she’s doing fine.”

“Pfft. I don’t need a lizard’s concern.”

Ophelia said that outwardly, but it seemed she wasn’t entirely displeased inside.

Why? Because the tail swaying happily above her head was proof of that.

Next, I read the second letter.

There was no name of the sender written, but judging by the paper’s color and handwriting, it was undoubtedly a letter from Owen.

“…Black Water Elgore has appeared on the eastern coast… You could have told us earlier.”

It seemed to be a letter he sent around the time we made our decision to set sail.

As I continued reading through the letter from Owen, I widened my eyes at the final paragraph.

“…What?”

I was flustered and reread the letter, but the written content was undoubtedly in Owen’s handwriting.

“…Why? What’s going on?”

Ophelia asked, a worried expression on her face, and I recited the last paragraph in a trembling voice.

“The Cathedral of the Saint… is colluding with the Demon King’s Army, preparing for a ritual…”

Even I couldn’t believe what I read, and Ophelia felt the same.

Her face turned as pale as a sheet.

 

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